Tourism Brief: 115 Million Domestic Trips During the May Day Holiday

Tourists take a selfie among blooming flowers at a scenic spot in Suining, southwest China's Sichuan Province [Photo/Xinhua News]

With Covid-19 becoming a memory across China, and the spring sunshine and warmth here to stay for a while, the travel bug is biting. Let’s take a fresh look at the trends and statistics from the May Day holiday, 2020's first travel "boom" in China.

1. China's tourism rebounds during May Day holiday ‍

China saw a total of 115 million domestic tourist trips made during the five-day May Day holiday which ran from May 1 to May 5. Domestic tourism revenue reached over 47 billion yuan, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

‍Coinciding with the gradual easing of travel restrictions, the five-day holiday marks a significant milestone for tourism recovery. But rather than travel long distances, many are taking shorter trips, going places closer to home, and having fun just the same.

"We tended to travel overseas or go to somewhere faraway, and didn't experience the beauty of Shanghai very well. There is a lot of beautiful scenery nearby to explore," said Qiu Min, a Shanghai resident visiting Qushui Garden. Located in one of the city's suburban areas, it remains a hidden gem to many locals.

Beijing has begun issuing e-vouchers to promote consumption in the cultural sector. The vouchers, issued by the State-owned Cultural Assets Administration Center, have a total value of 50 million yuan to be spent on books, art performances, tourism, education and entertainment programs. Residents of the capital can get coupons through a WeChat public account and receive cash rebates when making payments.

‍Although outbound travel is discouraged, people were still busy shopping around the world. Tmall recorded a year-on-year expansion of 41 percent in sales of imported goods during the first three days of the holiday.

Shanghai launched a shopping festival to spur pent-up spending. The shopping spree runs from May Day holiday to the end of June and features more than 700 online and offline activities. Combined sales hit 15.68 billion yuan in the 24 hours following the launch.

A major disruptor of retail in China, K11 mall, prepared an art feast letting visitors “travel” without setting foot outside of China by transforming one floor into an airport boarding space decorated with artworks. Meanwhile, the French department store Galeries Lafayette depicted a fashion travel diary on its WeChat.